Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Week 5

Again, all of the my starts/sits are based on PPR scoring. Here I was thinking that A.J Green was going to have the best fantasy week for WRs in Week 4 on Thursday with 33 points but nope that looked average to the performance Julio Jones had. Green ended up being tied for 2nd best behind Julio Jones’ 48 fantasy points which was mind boggling & tied with Michael Crabtree’s 33 point outing. There are a lot of key players out this week on bye weeks (Anyone on the Chiefs, Saints, Seahawks, & Jaguars) so there are going to be players you want to know if you should start or not in their places. That’s why I’m here!

QBs to start in Week 5:

Carson Wentz (vs. Lions): Carson Wentz has exceeded my expectations on how well he’s played so far this season starting 3-0 (had a bye week in week 4) so much so that Eagle fans are already thinking Super Bowl (I’m sorry Eagles fans but I wouldn’t get your hopes up for this season). Wentz this week is coming off his bye week to play against the Lions who have a very poor passing defense this season. The Lions have given up the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing QBs (97) & I don’t see them slowing down an Eagles team that’s been on a roll.

Derek Carr (vs. Chargers): David Carr’s brother has been outstanding this season & is a big reason why the Raiders are 3-1 to start the season. David, I mean Derek Carr is the 4th best fantasy QB only behind the likes of Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, & Drew Brees so far this season. This week Carr has a favorable matchup against the woeful San Diego Chargers defense. The Chargers defense has given up the 11th most fantasy points to QBs.

Philip Rivers (vs. Raiders): Rivers is still a QB I wouldn’t want leading my team but he’s always been a viable fantasy option at QB. Philip Rivers so far is the 9th best fantasy QB this season & has the Raiders coming up in Week 5. The Raiders secondary has been very vulnerable against the pass this season allowing the 3rd most fantasy points to opposing QBs. Rivers is usually a good start based on the matchup because the Chargers are usually playing from behind.

My Star QB of the Week: Ben Roethlisberger (vs. Jets): Do I even need to explain this choice? Roethlisberger just tore apart the Chiefs defense throwing 5 TDs & scoring 44 points & he has his RB back in Le’Veon Bell. Antonio Brown is also not a bad option to throw to & they play a Jets secondary that just allowed Russell Wilson to throw 309 yards & 3 touchdowns.

Under the Radar QB: Brian Hoyer (vs. Colts): I don’t know if I’ll ever say this again but I like Brian Hoyer this week as an option at QB especially if you have Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, or Blake Bortles who are all on bye weeks. Hoyer is playing the Colts who have given up the 8th most points to QBs & Hoyer hasn’t played too bad in the couple weeks he’s replaced Jay Cutler with 4 touchdowns & 0 interceptions in the 2 starts he’s had this year.

QBs to sit in Week 5:

Matt Ryan (vs. Broncos): I know, I know Matt Ryan is the leading scorer at QB in fantasy this year but I’m not starting any QB against that historic defense (unless your name is Brady, Brees, Rodgers, or Roethlisberger). The Broncos have only given up an average of 169.5 passing yards a game which is the 2nd best in the NFL. They also have 17 sacks already this season which is the best in the NFL & means Ryan is in for a long day.

Brock Osweiler (vs. Vikings): Why the hell are you starting Osweiler in the first place????? The only time he’s playable for me is maybe in a 2 QB league but this week he goes against the stingy Vikings defense which is not good news for Osweiler. The Vikings are the 2nd best team in sacks getting 15 so far & their secondary is heavily underrated. The Vikings are the 8th best defense against QBs in fantasy allowing just 51 points so far to opposing QBs.

RBs to start in Week 5:

Jordan Howard (vs. Colts): Howard in his 1st start in week 4 had 23 carries for 111 yards while also getting 3 catches for 21 yards to get 16 fantasy points. In his 2nd start Howard will face the Colts this week who again have a very weak defense against the run allowing the 4th most points to RBs (90 points). With Brian Hoyer at QB the Bears would like to run the ball as much as possible.

C.J Anderson (vs. Falcons): With the injury to Trevor Siemian it is likely that Anderson sees an extended workload whether Siemian or Paxton Lynch plays in this game. Anderson has scored the 11th most fantasy points among RBs & I see him finishing as a top 5 guy at the end of the year with the amount of touches he gets per week. Anderson is playing the Falcons this week who are the 7th worst team against RBs in fantasy this season.

Melvin Gordon (vs. Raiders): Gordon has been a great fantasy RB all year so far sitting as the 3rd best fantasy back this season. Gordon has scored 6 touchdowns this year which is 6 more than last year (I’m going to say this all year) & is playing the Raiders this week who have given up the 5th most points to opposing RBs. Gordon has seen an increase in touches since Danny Woodhead’s injury having only 14 touches in week 1, 27 in week 2, 20 in week 3, & 25 in week 4.

My Star RB of the Week: David Johnson (vs. 49ers): With the news today that Carson Palmer is unlikely to play this game which means that the Cardinals will be most likely looking to further the workload for David Johnson this week on Thursday night. Johnson is one of the best dual threat RBs in the NFL coming in as the 2nd best fantasy RB this year in points. The 49ers lost Navorro Bowman for the rest of the season to an achilles injury so the 49ers took a big hit to their run defense.

Under the Radar RB: Terrance West (vs. Redskins): West was given the starting job in week 3 after the Ravens made Justin Forsett a healthy scratch from the lineup & have since cut Forsett so it seems like it’s West’s backfield alongside rookie Kenneth Dixon (go pick him up if he is available in any of your leagues). West rushed for 113 yards on 21 carries & added a touchdown in his first start with the Ravens. West also has a generous matchup against a Redskins defense that is allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to RBs.

RBs to sit in Week 5:

Any Giants RB (vs. Packers): The Giants backfield has been very mediocre this year & they’ve had Orleans Darkwa & Bobby Rainey replacing Rashad Jennings while he’s been out with injury. I might be fine starting Bobby Rainey in a deep PPR league but I’m not starting him if I don’t have to. The Giants also have an unfavorable matchup against the Packers who have allowed the least fantasy points to RBs with just 21 points allowed.

Theo Riddick (vs. Eagles): Riddick is a RB I’m avoiding this week unless maybe in a deep PPR league. Riddick is only a threat in the passing game but if he’s not getting a consistent amount of catches he’s a guy that can just kill your fantasy week. He also plays the Eagles who have given up the 2nd least amount of points to opposing RBs. Riddick could see targets with Lions being behind in this game but I’m avoiding Riddick if I can.

WRs to start in Week 5:

Jordan Matthews (vs. Lions): Matthews has been a solid fantasy WR scoring a touchdown in 2 of the 3 games the Eagles have played (had a bye week in week 4). Jordan Matthews has 46 fantasy points which is 1 more point than Brandon Marshall this season. This week Jordan Matthews plays the Lions who have given up the 5th most points to WRs this season.

Julian Edelman (vs. Browns): Julian Edelman has been disappointing so far this year only getting 38 fantasy points so far without scoring a touchdown without his best friend Mr. Brady in at QB. Tom Brady is back from suspension so I see Edelman cementing himself as a top 10-15 PPR receiver now for the rest of the season. The Patriots went to a more standard offense of ISO formations & less shotgun formations without Brady. With Brady they like to spread you out & they use their short passing game as their running game & Edelman is their go to guy for that.

Demaryius Thomas (vs. Falcons): Thomas has been an alright fantasy WR so far this season with 65 fantasy points. Thomas has had a 3-week span of scoring 15+ points the last 3 games which is nice to see. For me I’m not too worried about the QB situation for the Broncos especially when they’re playing the Falcons who have given up the 13th most points to WRs.

My Star WR of the Week: Michael Crabtree (vs. Chargers): Crabtree is coming off an amazing 33 point performance in week 4 scoring 3 touchdowns in a 28-27 win over the Ravens. Crabtree is actually outscoring his fellow teammate Amari Cooper by 29 points this season & Crabtree is also the 4th best fantasy WR so far only behind A.J Green, Antonio Brown, & Julio Jones. This week he plays a decimated Chargers secondary with the news of Jason Verrett being out for the rest of the season which could mean an aerial assault on the Chargers defense.

Under the Radar WR: Steve Smith Sr. (vs. Redskins): Steve Smith Sr. is defying odds overcoming a ruptured achilles from 2015 & is playing at a high level at the age of 37 it is really amazing what he’s doing. Smith has had 2 straight weeks of getting 8+ receptions & 16+ fantasy points & has seemed to be on the same page as Joe Flacco so far. He will be playing the Redskins this week who might have Josh Norman on their team but have given up the 4th most fantasy points to WRs.

WRs to sit in Week 5:

Will Fuller V (vs. Vikings): Fuller has had a nice year scoring 14+ fantasy points in 3 out of the 4 games he’s played. The only game he struggled in was in week 3 against the Patriots but everyone on the Texans struggled in that game. I like Fuller the rest of the season but I’m sitting him this week if I can with the matchup against the Vikings & I don’t see Osweiler playing well in this game.

John Brown (vs 49ers): Brown had his best week so far in week 4 against the Rams scoring 24 fantasy points on 10 catches for 144 yards. It’s nice for Brown owners to finally see him be productive like he was last year but I’d be wary of playing him this week. Carson Palmer is unlikely to play so I don’t see the Cardinals airing the ball out much in this game & I see them relying heavily on David Johnson.

TEs to start in Week 5:

Rob Gronkowski (vs. Browns): Gronk owners have been very upset so far with the lack of production from him but this week is the week I see him coming back into his dominant form. Gronk has scored a total of 2 points in the 2 games he’s played this season but the way Gronk is talking in his interviews he’s very excited to get Brady back & is ready to have a big game. Another good reason to play him is they’re playing the Browns which is enough for me to start him this week.

Delanie Walker (vs. Dolphins): Delanie Walker on the Titans is the number 1 option in the passing game as a tight end so he’s an absolute start most weeks. This week Walker plays the Dolphins who have allowed the 10th most points to TEs & their secondary is full of young guys who are trying to prove themselves. There are worries about the Titans passing game with the inconsistencies they’ve shown but I see a nice week from Walker.

My Star TE of the Week: Zach Ertz (vs. Lions): Ertz has only played 1 game this season due to a rib injury but is expected to start this week coming off of the Eagles bye week. Ertz had a solid week 1 before getting hurt scoring 11 fantasy points. The Eagles play the Lions who have given up the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing TEs so I see Ertz coming back & having a huge game in this one.

Under the Radar TE: Cameron Brate (vs. Panthers): After seeing what the Falcons did to the Panthers defense in week 4 I’m not scared to put in anyone against them. Brate seems to be Jameis Winston’s 2nd or 3rd favorite target in a pass heavy offense without Doug Martin. Brate plays on Monday night so he’s one of those guys that may win you your week if you need 8-10 points to win. The Bucs play the Panthers who have surprisingly given up the 4th most points to opposing TEs.

TEs to sit in Week 5:

Dwayne Allen (vs. Bears): Allen has a favorable matchup against a below average Bears secondary but he’s been very disappointing since having 17 points in week 1. Allen has totaled just 14 points the last 3 weeks & doesn’t seem to be a big target for Andrew Luck to throw to. Jack Doyle, the backup TE for the Colts actually has more points than Dwayne Allen this year (Doyle has 38 to Allen’s 31). I’m avoiding Dwayne Allen until he shows he is a viable option to start.

Jacob Tamme (vs. Broncos): Tamme had a great start to the year in his first 2 weeks totaling 29 points but has shown signs of slowing down the last 2 weeks scoring only 13 points. The Falcons play the Broncos this week & I just don’t see the Falcons being able to get much of anything going in this game. I predict the Falcons will be playing from behind which can help Tamme but he’d need to score a touchdown for me to say it was worth playing him but I don’t see that happening.

DEF/STs to start in Week 5:

Minnesota Vikings (vs. Texans): How much more do you need to see that this Vikings defense is legit? The Vikings in week 4 shut down arguably the best WR trio in the NFL with Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, & Sterling Shepard to 50 yards less for each of them. The Vikings are playing against the Texans who have Brock Osweiler at QB & he’s shown signs of turning the ball over when being pressured even dating back to last year. The Vikings have 15 sacks on the year & I see them creating havoc for the Texans in this game.

New England Patriots (vs. Browns): The Patriots defense has always seemed to be overlooked every season. This week the Patriots play the Browns & with Brady back they’ll be up by big which means there’s going to be more opportunities for the Patriots to create turnovers on the Browns rookie QB Cody Kessler. I see a big day for the Patriots like they had in week 3 against the Texans.

DEF/STs to sit in Week 5:

Carolina Panthers (vs. Buccaneers): I just don’t know what’s wrong with this Panthers defense this year. They can’t be missing Josh Norman that much can they??? I’m avoiding starting the Panthers defense until they figure everything out even though this week could be a bounce back week for them.

New York Giants (vs. Packers): The Giants defense has looked improved this season but they’ve had some injuries in the secondary the past couple weeks. The Giants play the Packers at Lambeau Field & with the Packers coming off a bye I see a huge week for the Packers offense.